76ers Hit With Major Joel Embiid Injury Setback Ahead of Knicks Game

Game 1 was a blowout. Game 2 just got a lot more complicated for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers head to Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night to face the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. ET, already down 1-0 in the series after a 137-98 beatdown in the opener. Jalen Brunson ran the show for New York with 35 points on efficient shooting and the Knicks were never really threatened.

Philadelphia had all five starters reach double figures, with Paul George leading at 17 points, but none of that matters much now. Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2.

According to Shams Charania, Embiid was unable to participate in Wednesday morning's shootaround due to increased soreness in both his ankle and hip. The 76ers had listed him as probable heading into the day, which made the late scratch even more of a gut punch.

Just in: Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 tonight against the New York Knicks due to ankle and hip injuries, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eJm0W04R3G

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 6, 2026

He has been receiving around-the-clock treatment to stay on the floor but his condition took a turn. It is not the first time Embiid has had to fight through something serious this postseason.

He missed the first three games against the Boston Celtics after an appendectomy before returning to average 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists over the final four games of that series.

Now the concern is whether his body can hold up for the long haul. Philadelphia is already in a deep hole and doing it without Embiid makes climbing out of it a much steeper task.

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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM.